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Figurative Language and Idiom is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on interpreting similes, metaphors and idioms in context, aligned to Common Core standard L.5.5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 14 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Figurative Language and Idiom

L.5.5

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1."The fog was a thick blanket over the town." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.Somebody put a blanket on the town.
  • B.The fog was thin and patchy.
  • C.The fog covered the whole town.
2."On market day the town was a beehive." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.Bees lived in the town.
  • B.The town was busy and full of people.
  • C.The town was empty.
3."The last five minutes of the game were a roller coaster." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The game was played at a fair.
  • B.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
  • C.Nothing exciting happened.
4."After the long hike, Leo's backpack was an anchor dragging him down." What does the metaphor suggest?
  • A.The backpack felt very heavy.
  • B.Leo was on a boat.
  • C.The backpack was empty.
5."Dev tried to keep his cool when the projector broke." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Dev tried to stay calm.
  • B.Dev got angry.
  • C.Dev tried to stay cold.
6."When Mia saw her score, she was over the moon." What does the idiom mean?
  • A.Mia jumped very high.
  • B.Mia was delighted.
  • C.Mia was disappointed.
7."The news spread like wildfire through the school." What does the simile mean?
  • A.Nobody heard the news.
  • B.The school was on fire.
  • C.The news spread very quickly.
8."The wind howled like a wolf all night." What does the simile suggest?
  • A.A wolf was outside.
  • B.The wind made a long, loud, eerie sound.
  • C.The wind was quiet.

LessonPrint · L.5.5 · Set 14 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Figurative Language and Idiom

Set 14. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The fog covered the whole town.
  2. 2.The town was busy and full of people.
  3. 3.The last minutes were full of ups and downs.
  4. 4.The backpack felt very heavy.
  5. 5.Dev tried to stay calm.
  6. 6.Mia was delighted.
  7. 7.The news spread very quickly.
  8. 8.The wind made a long, loud, eerie sound.

More practice for L.5.5

Interpret figurative language, idioms, proverbs and shades of meaning.

Teaching this next? Idioms, Adages, Proverbs and Nuance is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.5.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.